U.S. patent application number 12/916207 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-03 for plastic container with reinforced base and closure and system and method of making same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Graham Packaging Company, L.P.. Invention is credited to Thomas J. Atkinson, David B. Clements, John E. Denner, Kevin D. Himes, Lawrence Korpanty, Robert D. Stoolmaker.
Application Number | 20120102880 12/916207 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45995127 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120102880 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Korpanty; Lawrence ; et
al. |
May 3, 2012 |
PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH REINFORCED BASE AND CLOSURE AND SYSTEM AND
METHOD OF MAKING SAME
Abstract
A plastic container and closure, and system and method of making
the same. Container can include a solid bottom end, an outer
sidewall extending from solid bottom end, a shoulder portion
extending from outer sidewall, and neck portion extending from
shoulder portion, forming an open end of container. Solid bottom
end includes a circumferential heel portion having a plurality of
radially asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer
periphery of the heel portion, the plurality being configured to
increase heel portion rigidity while maintaining substantially
uniform material thickness. Shoulder portion forms an angle with a
plane perpendicular to the container central axis. At an angle of
50.degree. a desirable failure mode may be achieved where the yield
strength of the shoulder portion is balanced against that of the
heel portion and the outer sidewall to maximize the top load
strength of the container.
Inventors: |
Korpanty; Lawrence; (York,
PA) ; Himes; Kevin D.; (Mount Wolf, PA) ;
Denner; John E.; (York, PA) ; Clements; David B.;
(Medina, OH) ; Stoolmaker; Robert D.; (York,
PA) ; Atkinson; Thomas J.; (Phoenix, MD) |
Assignee: |
Graham Packaging Company,
L.P.
York
PA
|
Family ID: |
45995127 |
Appl. No.: |
12/916207 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/285 ; 215/317;
493/52; 53/396; 53/467 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/0074 20130101;
B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00796 20130101; B65D 1/42
20130101; B65D 43/0208 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D
1/16 20130101; B65D 2543/00842 20130101; B65D 2543/00509
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/285 ; 215/317;
53/396; 53/467; 493/52 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20060101
B65B001/04; B65B 7/00 20060101 B65B007/00; B65D 41/00 20060101
B65D041/00 |
Claims
1. A plastic container and closure combination comprising: a
container comprising: a solid bottom end; an outer sidewall
extending from the solid bottom end; a shoulder portion extending
from the outer sidewall; and a neck portion extending from the
shoulder portion to create an open end of the container, the neck
portion having a diameter less than a diameter of the outer
sidewall; and a closure comprising: a sealing portion including an
outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion having a
diameter greater than the diameter of the neck portion of the
container and the inner portion having a diameter less than the
diameter of the neck portion of the container; a spring portion
extending inward from the sealing portion; and a flexible planar
center area in the center of the closure and extending inward from
the spring portion; wherein the solid bottom end includes a
circumferential heel portion having a plurality of radially
asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer
periphery of the heel portion, the plurality of projections and
recesses being configured to increase rigidity of the heel portion
while maintaining substantially uniform material thickness; wherein
the container defines a container central axis, and the shoulder
portion forms a shoulder angle with a plane perpendicular to the
container central axis; and wherein the shoulder angle is selected
to balance a strength of the shoulder portion against a strength of
the heel portion and a strength of the outer sidewall to maximize a
top load strength of the container, and the selected shoulder angle
is in the range of 30 to 75 degrees.
2. The container and closure of claim 1, wherein the solid bottom
end includes at least one support surface for supporting the
container and closure on a horizontal surface, and wherein the
projections and recesses are disposed radially outwardly from the
support surface.
3. The container and closure of claim 1, wherein the selected
shoulder angle is 50 degrees.
4. The container and closure of claim 1, wherein the closure
further comprises a tab portion formed thereon, the tab portion
being configured to allow a force to be applied thereto to remove
the closure from the container.
5. The container and closure of claim 1, wherein the container
further comprises a handle.
6. A method of making a plastic container and closure combination
for withstanding axial loading in stacking and closure operations,
the method comprising: forming the container by forcing a gas into
the container-via an aperture in the container, the formed
container having: a solid bottom end; an outer sidewall extending
from the solid bottom end; a shoulder portion extending from the
outer sidewall; and a neck portion extending from the shoulder
portion to create an open end of the container, the neck portion
having a diameter less than a diameter of the outer sidewall; and
forming the closure, the closure having: a sealing portion
including an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion
having a diameter greater than the diameter of the neck portion of
the container and the inner portion having a diameter less than the
diameter of the neck portion of the container; a spring portion
extending inward from the sealing portion; and a flexible planar
center area in the center of the closure and extending inward from
the spring portion; wherein the solid bottom end includes a
circumferential heel portion having a plurality of radially
asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer
periphery of the heel portion, the plurality of projections and
recesses being configured to increase rigidity of the heel portion
while maintaining substantially uniform material thickness.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: filling the container
with a bulk material; and securing the closure to the filled
container, over the open end of the container.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: providing a plurality
container and closure combinations, the container and closure
combinations being similarly formed, filled and secured; stacking
the plurality of container and closure combinations to form an
array of container and closure combinations, the array having at
least two layers of stacked container and closure combinations; and
securing the array of stacked container and closure combinations to
one or more pallets.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the bulk material is paint.
10. The method of claim 6, the plurality of projections and
recesses being further configured to facilitate removal of the
container from a mold in a blow molding operation.
11. The method of claim 6, wherein the container defines a
container central axis, and the shoulder portion forms a shoulder
angle with a plane perpendicular to the container central axis; the
shoulder angle is selected to balance a strength of the shoulder
portion against a strength of the heel portion and a strength of
the outer sidewall to maximize a top load strength of the
container; and the selected shoulder angle is in the range of 30 to
75 degrees.
12. A system for making a plastic container and closure combination
for withstanding axial loading in stacking and closure operations,
the system comprising: means for forming the container by forcing a
gas into the container via an aperture in the container, the formed
container having: a solid bottom end; an outer sidewall extending
from the solid bottom end; a shoulder portion extending from the
outer sidewall; and a neck portion extending from the shoulder
portion to create an open end of the container, the neck portion
having a diameter less than a diameter of the outer sidewall; and
means for forming the closure, the closure having: a sealing
portion including an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer
portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the neck
portion of the container and the inner portion having a diameter
less than the diameter of the neck portion of the container; a
spring portion extending inward from the sealing portion; and a
flexible planar center area in the center of the closure and
extending inward from the spring portion; wherein the solid bottom
end includes a circumferential heel portion having a plurality of
radially asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer
periphery of the heel portion, the plurality of projections and
recesses being configured to increase rigidity of the heel portion
while maintaining substantially uniform material thickness.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for filling
the container with a bulk material; and means for securing the
closure to the filled container, over the open end of the
container.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the bulk material is paint.
15. The system according to according to claim 12, wherein the
sealing portion of the closure is configured to be secured to the
neck portion of the container, and when the closure is secured to
the container, the outer portion of the closure is located on the
outside of the neck portion and the inner portion of the closure is
located on the inside of the neck portion.
16. The system according to according to claim 12, wherein the
closure further comprises means for removing the closure from the
container.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
packaging bulk products such as paints, chemicals, or foods. More
specifically, this invention relates to a plastic container and
closure and system and method of making the same.
[0002] Containers for packaging bulk products are typically
palletized for transport and storage. Each pallet may contain an
array of containers, where the containers are stacked in multiple
layers. As a result of the containers being stacked on top of each
other, a vertical top load is applied to each container. The
vertical top load on a container in a given layer increases in
proportion with the number of layers stacked above the given layer.
Additionally, pallets holding container arrays may be stacked in
multiple layers. Such containers may also be transported and stored
under extreme temperature conditions and may be subjected to
prolonged periods of storage.
[0003] Many bulk product containers have been manufactured using
steel or other metal-based compositions, to ensure the containers
will maintain structural integrity under the previously described
transport and storage conditions. As an alternative material to
metal, plastic may offer relative ease of manufacturing, lighter
container weight, and cost savings on raw material. Accordingly, a
plastic container that maintains structural integrity under the
previously described transport and storage conditions may be
desirable.
[0004] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
plastic container and closure combination includes a reinforced
base having a heel geometry that increases heel stiffness. The
shoulder of the container is formed at an angle to distribute the
vertical top load proportionally between the shoulder, the
sidewall, and the reinforced base. These features may increase the
ability of the container to support higher vertical top loads and
maintain its structural integrity during container closure and
stacking operations, as well as under the previously described
transport and storage conditions.
[0005] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
plastic container and closure combination may include a container
having a solid bottom end; an outer sidewall extending from the
solid bottom end; a shoulder portion extending from the outer
sidewall; and a neck portion extending from the shoulder portion to
create an open end of the container, the neck portion having a
diameter less than a diameter of the outer sidewall; and a closure
having: a sealing portion including an outer portion and an inner
portion, the outer portion having a diameter greater than the
diameter of the neck portion of the container and the inner portion
having a diameter less than the diameter of the neck portion of the
container; a spring portion extending inward from the sealing
portion; and a flexible planar center area in the center of the
closure and extending inward from the spring portion; where the
solid bottom end includes a circumferential heel portion having a
plurality of radially asymmetrical projections and recesses
disposed on an outer periphery of the heel portion, the plurality
of projections and recesses being configured to increase rigidity
of the heel portion while maintaining substantially uniform
material thickness; where the container defines a container central
axis, and the shoulder portion forms a shoulder angle with a plane
perpendicular to the container central axis; and where the shoulder
angle is selected to balance a strength of the shoulder portion
against a strength of the heel portion and a strength of the outer
sidewall to maximize a top load strength of the container, and the
selected shoulder angle is in the range of 30 to 75 degrees. The
solid bottom end may include at least one support surface for
supporting the container and closure on a horizontal surface, and
the projections and recesses may be disposed radially outwardly
from the support surface. The selected shoulder angle may be 50
degrees. The closure may include a tab portion formed on it, the
tab portion being configured to allow a force to be applied thereto
to remove the closure from the container. The container may also
include a handle.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
method of making a plastic container and closure combination for
withstanding axial loading in stacking and closure operations may
include: forming the container by forcing a gas into the container
via an aperture in the container, the formed container having: a
solid bottom end; an outer sidewall extending from the solid bottom
end; a shoulder portion extending from the outer sidewall; and a
neck portion extending from the shoulder portion to create an open
end of the container, the neck portion having a diameter less than
a diameter of the outer sidewall; and forming the closure, the
closure having: a sealing portion including an outer portion and an
inner portion, the outer portion having a diameter greater than the
diameter of the neck portion of the container and the inner portion
having a diameter less than the diameter of the neck portion of the
container; a spring portion extending inward from the sealing
portion; and a flexible planar center area in the center of the
closure and extending inward from the spring portion; where the
solid bottom end includes a circumferential heel portion having a
plurality of radially asymmetrical projections and recesses
disposed on an outer periphery of the heel portion, the plurality
of projections and recesses being configured to increase rigidity
of the heel portion while maintaining substantially uniform
material thickness. The method may also include: filling the
container with a bulk material; and securing the closure to the
filled container, over the open end of the container. The method
may also include: providing a plurality container and closure
combinations, the container and closure combinations being
similarly formed, filled, and secured; stacking the plurality of
container and closure combinations to form an array of container
and closure combinations, the array having at least two layers of
stacked container and closure combinations; and securing the array
of stacked container and closure combinations to one or more
pallets. The bulk material with which the container is filled may
be paint, for example. The plurality of projections and recesses
may also be configured to facilitate removal of the container from
a mold in a blow molding operation. The container may define a
container central axis, and the shoulder portion may form a
shoulder angle with a plane perpendicular to the container central
axis; the shoulder angle may be selected to balance a strength of
the shoulder portion against a strength of the heel portion and a
strength of the outer sidewall to maximize a top load strength of
the container; and the selected shoulder angle may be in the range
of 30 to 75 degrees.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
system for making a plastic container and closure combination for
withstanding axial loading in stacking and closure operations, may
include: means for forming the container by forcing a gas into the
container via an aperture in the container, the formed container
having: a solid bottom end; an outer sidewall extending from the
solid bottom end; a shoulder portion extending from the outer
sidewall; and a neck portion extending from the shoulder portion to
create an open end of the container, the neck portion having a
diameter less than a diameter of the outer sidewall; and means for
forming the closure, the closure having: a sealing portion
including an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion
having a diameter greater than the diameter of the neck portion of
the container and the inner portion having a diameter less than the
diameter of the neck portion of the container; a spring portion
extending inward from the sealing portion; and a flexible planar
center area in the center of the closure and extending inward from
the spring portion; where the solid bottom end includes a
circumferential heel portion having a plurality of radially
asymmetrical projections and recesses disposed on an outer
periphery of the heel portion, the plurality of projections and
recesses being configured to increase rigidity of the heel portion
while maintaining substantially uniform material thickness. The
system may also include: means for filling the container with a
bulk material; and means for securing the closure to the filled
container, over the open end of the container. The bulk material
with which the container is filled may be paint, for example. The
sealing portion of the closure may be configured to be secured to
the neck portion of the container, such that when the closure is
secured to the container, the outer portion of the closure is
located on the outside of the neck portion and the inner portion of
the closure is located on the inside of the neck portion. The
closure may also include means for removing the closure from the
container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute
a part of the specification.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of a container according to various
embodiments of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of a container according to various
embodiments of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of a container according to various
embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a container according to various
embodiments of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a container
according to various embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting an
enlarged portion of an area that is shown in FIG. 5.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting an
enlarged portion of an area shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting an
enlarged portion of an area shown in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional perspective view of
a bottom portion of a container according to various embodiments of
the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a closure according to various
embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a closure
according to various embodiments of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting an
enlarged portion of an area shown in FIG. 11.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a container and
closure combination with the closure detached from the container,
according to various embodiments of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a container and
closure combination with the closure secured to the container,
according to various embodiments of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method for forming a container
and closure according to various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] While the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein may show
the various features of the present invention, it will be
understood that the features disclosed herein may be combined
variously to achieve the objectives of the present invention.
[0025] Turning to FIG. 1, container [100] is shown according to
various embodiments. Container [100] can comprise any suitable
material. For example, container [100] can comprise one or more
plastics or combinations thereof, the plastics including, but not
limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low density
polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and nylons,
as well as other polyesters, polyolefins, and polycarboxyamides
having suitable properties for the intended application. Container
[100] can be made by any suitable process or method, including, but
not limited to blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion blow
molding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,133 provides an example of a method of
manufacture.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of container [100]
includes a solid bottom end [102], an outer sidewall [104], a
shoulder portion [110], and a neck portion [106] that forms an open
end [108] of container [100]. Outer sidewall [104] extends from
solid bottom end [102], shoulder portion [110] extends from outer
sidewall [104], and neck portion [106] extends from shoulder
portion [110]. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, neck portion [106] can
have a diameter that is less than a diameter of outer sidewall
[104]. Additionally, outer sidewall [104] may have constant outer
and inner diameters throughout its length. Container [100] forms a
container central axis (not shown) that is substantially parallel
to outer sidewall [104] and passes through the geometric center of
container [100].
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of container [100]. Solid bottom
end [102] includes a planar center portion [140] and a support
surface [160] located on the outer periphery of planar center
portion [140] for supporting the container and closure on a
horizontal surface. Ridges [142] are located between the outer
periphery of planar center portion [140] and the inner periphery of
support surface [160]. Indentations [156] are located on the outer
periphery of planar center portion [140], at either axial end of a
fin that runs across and protrudes from planar center portion
[140]. Solid bottom end [102] also includes projections [144, 146,
148] and recesses [150, 152, 154] arranged circumferentially on the
outer periphery of the heel portion and radially outward from
support surface [160], forming a geometry that is similar in
appearance to a truck tire. Each projection [144, 146, 148] has a
bearing surface for supporting the container and closure on a
horizontal surface, and side surfaces that taper away from the
bearing surface and form part of a recess [150, 152, 154] located
on either side of the projection. As is shown in FIGS. 7-9,
projections [144, 146, 148] and recesses [150, 152, 154] of the
heel portion are curved to conform generally to the profile of the
heel portion, and run from support surface [160] along the outer
periphery of the heel portion to the bottom of outer sidewall
[104]. As can also be seen from FIGS. 4 and 7-9, projections [144,
146, 148] and recesses [150, 152, 154] are radially asymmetrical.
Note, for example, that projection [146] extends circumferentially
along the outer periphery of the heel portion to a greater degree
than does projection [144], and projection [148] extends
circumferentially along the outer periphery of the heel portion to
a greater degree than does projection [146]. A similar geometric
relationship exists among recesses [150, 152, 154].
[0028] The staggered projections [144, 146, 148] with intermittent
recesses [150, 152, 154] effectively form two concentric load
bearing rings or container bases, one having a relatively smaller
radius than the other. The projections [144, 146, 148] and recesses
[150, 152, 154] of the "truck tire" geometry generally increase the
rigidity of the heel portion of solid bottom end [102] without
having to increase material thickness in that portion of the
container, and may increase the vertical top load container [100]
will withstand before its heel portion rolls or experiences a
buckling failure, thus improving container stability when securing
a closure to the container and/or in a stacking formation such as
the previously described array of containers. The projections [144,
146, 148] and recesses [150, 152, 154] of the "truck tire" geometry
may also facilitate removal of container [100] from a mold in blow
molding operations.
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of
container [100] near open end [108]. Neck portion [106] may include
one or more sealing ridges [120, 130] formed on the outer diameter
thereof. The one or more sealing ridges [120, 130] can be any
suitable sealing ridge of any suitable size and shape, including,
but not limited to, threads, sealing beads, locking ridges, etc. As
shown in FIG. 5, sealing ridge [120] may be of a different size and
shape than sealing ridge [130]. Further, one or more sealing ridges
[120, 130] can be positioned at any suitable position on the outer
diameter of neck portion [106]. For example, in various
embodiments, sealing ridge [120, 130] is annular and can extend
completely around the outer periphery of neck portion [106].
Container [100] may have a uniform wall thickness, as shown in FIG.
5.
[0030] In various embodiments, container [100] can include a
handle. The handle can be any suitable size or shape and can be
configured on container [100] at any suitable position and
orientation. Moreover, the handle can be made of any suitable
material, including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, etc. In
various embodiments, the handle can be attached to an outside part
of neck portion [106]. In various embodiments, the handle may be
formed separately from the container and can be coupled to the
container after the container is formed. In another embodiment, the
handle may be formed in one piece with the container. For example,
the handle can be blow molded in one piece simultaneously with
container [100].
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of
container [100] near shoulder portion [110]. Shoulder portion [110]
extends from the upper end of outer sidewall [104] e.g., the end of
outer sidewall [104] nearest open end [108]. More specifically,
shoulder portion [110] meets the upper end of outer sidewall [104]
at a connection [112] having a convex bend with a radius R.sub.1
and a concave bend with a radius R.sub.2. As discussed previously,
container [100] defines a container central axis (not shown) that
is substantially parallel to outer sidewall [104] and passes
through the geometric center of container [100]. Shoulder portion
[110] forms a shoulder angle .alpha., with a plane perpendicular to
the container central axis. An exemplary range of values of
shoulder angle .alpha. for producing suitable containers, is 30 to
75 degrees. As shoulder angle .alpha. approaches 75 degrees, the
ability of container [100] to withstand a vertical top load is
relatively maximal. Such an angle would also yield relatively
minimal container [100] side impact resistance, and would minimize
the height of outer sidewall [104], resulting in a relatively
shorter label panel area for applying one or more labels to
container [100]. As shoulder angle .alpha. approaches 30 degrees,
the ability of container [100] to withstand a vertical top load is
relatively minimal. Such an angle would also yield relatively
maximal container [100] side impact resistance, and would maximize
the height of outer sidewall [104], resulting in a relatively
longer label panel area for applying one or more labels to
container [100].
[0032] As shoulder angle .alpha. approaches 50 degrees, a balance
is struck between maximizing vertical top load strength and
maintaining acceptable hoop strength of the container. As an
example, sufficient hoop strength may be desired in order for
container [100] to maintain its cross-sectional shape while a bulk
product is being poured or otherwise emptied from container [100].
At a selected shoulder angle .alpha. of 50 degrees a desirable
container configuration may be achieved, such that the top load
strength of the container is maximized while maintaining desired
hoop strength. In this configuration the variable top load strength
of shoulder portion [110] as a function of shoulder angle .alpha.,
is balanced or optimized with respect to the constant top load
strength of the heel portion and the variable hoop strength of
outer sidewall [104]. This balancing or optimization maximizes the
top load container [100] is able to support while maintaining
overall structural integrity. For example, as a vertical top load
is applied to container [100], the heel portion of solid bottom end
[102] may roll or buckle before shoulder portion [110] inverts or
collapses, and before outer sidewall [104] buckles. In this
configuration, the top loads at which shoulder portion [110] would
collapse and outer sidewall [104] would buckle are each equal to or
greater than that of the heel portion.
[0033] At a shoulder angle .alpha. of 40 degrees, the variable top
load strength of shoulder portion [110] is relatively minimal, and
the variable hoop strength of outer sidewall [104] is relatively
maximal. Accordingly, as a top load is applied to container [100],
shoulder portion [110] may invert or collapse before the heel
portion would roll or buckle, and before outer sidewall [104] would
buckle. At a shoulder angle .alpha. of 60 degrees, the variable top
load strength of shoulder portion [110] is relatively maximal, and
the variable hoop strength of outer sidewall [104] is relatively
minimal. Accordingly, as a top load is applied to container [100],
the heel portion may roll or buckle before outer sidewall [104]
would buckle, and before shoulder portion [110] would invert or
collapse. While these .alpha. values may result in containers that
have acceptable top load strength, they may be less desirable than
a selected shoulder angle .alpha. of 50 degrees, which adjusts or
balances the strength of the shoulder portion in proportion to the
strength of the heel portion and the strength of the sidewall to
maximize overall top load strength of the container.
[0034] FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of a closure [200] according to
various embodiments. Closure [200] can be any suitable size, shape,
and configuration. For example, closure [200] may be substantially
circular and have a substantially planar center region. In various
embodiments, closure [200] can be configured to be secured to
container [100], over open end [108]. Additionally, closure [200]
can comprise any suitable material. For example, closure [200] can
comprise one or more plastics or combinations thereof, the plastics
including, but not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE),
and nylons, as well as other polyesters, polyolefins, and
polycarboxyamides having suitable properties for the intended
application. Moreover, closure [200] can be made by any suitable
process or method, including, but not limited to, blow molding,
injection molding, extrusion blow molding; etc. U.S. Pat. No.
4,933,133 provides an example of a method of manufacture.
[0035] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of closure [200]. As
shown in FIG. 11, closure [200] may include a sealing portion
[202], a spring portion [210] that extends inward from sealing
portion [202], and a planar center area [204] configured in the
center of closure [200] and extending inward from spring portion
[210]. As can be seen from FIG. 12, sealing portion [202] can
include an outer portion [206] and an inner portion [208] that form
a first receptacle [240]. In various embodiments, outer portion
[206] has a diameter greater than the diameter of neck portion
[106], and inner portion [208] has a diameter less than the
diameter of neck portion [106]. Additionally, in various
embodiments, sealing portion [202] can include one or more recessed
portions [220, 230]. The one or more recessed portions [220, 230]
can be any suitable size and configuration. In various embodiments,
the one or more recessed portions [220, 230] and the one or more
sealing ridges [120, 130] of container [100] may be configured to
interconnect to create a seal. For example, one or more recessed
portions [220, 230] may include thread receptacles that are
complementary to one or more sealing ridges [120, 130] (configured
as a thread) of neck portion [106], which can allow for closure
[200] to be threaded onto container [100].
[0036] Spring portion [210] can be formed in any suitable
configuration. In various embodiments, spring portion [210] can
surround planar center area [204]. Additionally, spring portion
[210] may be an annular formation that bends in one direction out
of the plane defined by the center planar area [204] and then bends
back.
[0037] FIGS. 13 and 14 are front perspective views of a container
and closure combination [300] according to various embodiments.
FIG. 13 shows closure [200] being unsecured to container [100].
FIG. 14 shows closure [200] being secured to container [100]. Both
FIGS. 13 and 14 show that closure [100] can be configured with a
tab portion [250]. Tab portion [250] can be any suitable size and
shape, and may be configured at any suitable position on closure
[200]. Moreover, tab portion [250] may be of any suitable
configuration such that a force can be applied thereto to allow
removal of closure [200] from container [100]. For example, tab
portion [250] may allow a pressure to be applied thereto to remove
closure [200] from container [100]. In various embodiments, the
pressure may be an upward pressure to tab portion [250] to remove
closure [200] from container [100]. As another example, if the
container and closure are secured together by threads and thread
receptacles, a force may be applied to tab portion [250] from a
side of tab portion [250] to allow closure [200] to be "unscrewed"
from container [100].
[0038] FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a method [1500] for forming a
container and closure according to various embodiments. Method
[1500] begins at S1502 and may proceed to S1504, where container
[100] is formed. As discussed above, container [100] can be any
suitable size and/or shape and can be made from any suitable
material. In various embodiments, container [100] can be made from
plastic. At S1504, container [100] can be formed by any suitable
method or process, including, but not limited to, blow molding,
injection molding, and extrusion blow molding. In various
embodiments, container [100] can be formed by forcing a gas into
the interior of the container. The gas may be any suitable gas,
including, but not limited to, air, nitrogen, etc. The gas can be
forced into the interior of container [100] by any suitable means
and at any suitable force. The method may proceed from S1504 to
S1506. At S1506, a flange portion located at open end [108] can be
inverted. The flange portion can be inverted by any suitable means
and in any suitable number of steps or movements. For example, the
flange portion can be forced downward, by any suitable means,
toward the interior of container [100]. Alternatively, the flange
portion can be held in place by any suitable means and container
[100] pushed toward the flange portion, using any suitable means,
so that the flange portion is inverted. Alternatively, S1506 can be
deferred until after the container has been filled at S1510, and
the flange portion may be inverted by the same force that is used
to secure closure [200] to container [100] at S1512.
[0039] After S1506, the method may proceed to S1508, wherein
closure [200] is formed. Alternatively, closure [200] can be formed
before container [100] is formed or simultaneously with container
[100]. As discussed above, closure [200] can be formed by any
suitable process and can be configured to be secured to open end
[108] of container [100].
[0040] After S1508, the method may proceed to S1510 where container
[100] is filled with a product by any suitable means. Container can
be filled with any suitable product, including, but not limited to,
paint, chemicals, food, etc. In various embodiments, the product
can be filled "hot" (above room temperature), "cold" (below room
temperature), or at room temperature. For example, container [100]
can be filled with paint, wherein the paint can be at a temperature
of, for example, about 100 degrees Fahrenheit to about 110 degrees
Fahrenheit.
[0041] S1510, the method may proceed to S1512 where closure [200]
is secured over the open end [108] of container [100]. The method
may then proceed to S1514 where the method ends.
[0042] Although FIG. 15 shows a step of filling the container with
a product preceding a step of securing a closure to a container
over the open end of the container, the closure may be secured to
the container, and subsequently removed, before filling the
container with a product. For example, the container and closure
may be formed and secured together without filling the container
with a product. The container may then be sent to a facility where
the closure is removed, the container is filled with a product, and
the closure is re-secured to the container over the open end of the
container.
[0043] It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided in
accordance with the present invention, a structure, system and
method for producing a plastic container and closure combination.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with a
number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, applicants
intend to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents
and variations that are within the spirit and scope of this
invention.
* * * * *